Picea pungens tree named ‘INHWB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Picea pungens  tree having a uniform, compact, and globose tree shape, is wider than tall, has blue-green leaves, and is tolerant to USDA Zones 2 to 8, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Picea pungens.

Denomination: ‘INHWB’.

BACKGROUND

‘INHWB’ is a new and distinct variety of Picea pungens. ‘INHWB’originated from a branch mutation of the commercial line‘Hoopsii’(Unpatented) in February 2012 in Boring, Oreg.

‘INHWB’ was first asexually propagated in February 2012 in Boring, Oreg.via grafting onto Picea abies rootstock (Unpatented).

‘INHWB’ had been propagated for approximately 10 generations. ‘INHWB’reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction via grafting onto Picea abies rootstock (Unpatented).

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Boring, Oreg.

-   -   1. Uniform, compact, and globose tree shape;    -   2. A wider than tall tree;    -   3. Blue-green leaves; and    -   4. Tolerant to USDA Zones 2 to 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Picea pungens tree is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including formand foliage. The photographs are of a 9-years and 10-month-old treegrown in a container in Boring, Oreg. taken in December 2021 undercloudy conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall form of the whole tree of ‘INHWB’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the buds and needles or leaves of the tree ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the terminal branch shoot of the tree of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set for the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘INHWB’. The data which define these characteristicswere collected outdoors in Boring, Oreg. in December 2021. The treeswere 9-years and 10-month-old tree grown in a container in Boring, Oreg.when the descriptions were taken. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2001,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Pinaceae.        -   Botanical.—Picea pungens.        -   Denomination.—‘INHWB’.-   Tree:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen conifer.        -   Shape.—Uniform, compact, and globose; wider than tall.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Single flush, monopodial but            lacking a dominant orthotropic shoot, branch shoots are            plagiotropic of equivalent length.        -   Propagation type.—Grafting onto Picea abies rootstock            (Unpatented).        -   Height (from soil line).—40 cm at 10 years.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—80 cm at 10 years.        -   Length of terminal 1-year shoots.—4.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Length of subterminal 1-year shoots.—3.5 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Diameter of trunk.—6.5 cm at 10 years.        -   Temperature tolerance or zones.—USDA Zones 2 to 8.-   Leaves (needles):    -   -   Arrangement.—Radial, single.        -   Quantity of leaves per terminal one-year branch shoot.—310            needles.        -   Quantity of leaves per subterminal one-year branch shoot.—85            needles.        -   Shape.—Needle-like, acicular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate, attached to leaf peg.        -   Margin.—Entire, smooth.        -   Leaf length, terminal shoot.—Basal: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm;            Medial: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm; Distal: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Leaf length, subterminal shoot.—Basal: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm;            Medial: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm; Distal: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Dull smooth covered with waxy layer.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Mature leaf color for both upper and lower surfaces.—RHS            112C (Blue-Green).        -   Mature leaf color when wax rubbed off.—RHS 189A            (Greyed-Green).        -   Petioles.—Leaves are sessile on short peg.-   Buds:    -   -   Color.—RHS 168C (Greyed-Orange).        -   Bud shape.—Broadly conical.        -   Height.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.6 cm to 1.0 cm.-   Cones: No male or female cones have been observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: No specific disease or pest resistance has    been observed to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL LINES

Table 1 shows a comparison of differences between ‘INHWB’ the mutationparent.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Mutation Parent Characteristic ‘INHWB’ MutationParent ‘Hoopsii’ Shape Globose Broad upright Growth rate per year 4.0 cmto 8.0 cm 22.0 cm to 38.0 cm Size, height and width 40 cm × 80 cm 230 cm× 135 cm at 10-years-old

Table 2 shows a comparison of the differences between ‘INHWB’ and thecommercial Picea pungens tree ‘Montgomery’ (Unpatented).

TABLE 2 Comparison with Commercial Line Characteristic ‘INHWB’‘Montgomery’ Immature shape Uniform and globose Irregular flattenedmound Mature shape Globose - wider than Pyramidal shape tall Growth rateper year 4.0 cm to 8.0 cm 10.0 cm to 20.0 cm Size height by width 40 cm× 80 cm 90 cm × 105 cm at 10 years Color RHS 112C (Blue- RHS 122B (Blue-Green) Green)

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Picea pungens tree designated‘INHWB’ as illustrated and described herein.